The New Campus of the University of Macau

1. Overview and analysis of the project
The new campus of the University of Macau(UM) is located on the east coast of Hengqin Island, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, to the south of the Lotus Bridge, separated from Macao by a waterway. There will be a two-way, four-lane underground tunnel accessible to vehicles and pedestrians around the clock between Macao and the new campus. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus of UM was held on 20 December 2009. President of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Hu jintao and Chief Executive of Macao SAR Dr. Chui Sai On officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus. The new campus will be completed on 20 December 2012. It can accommodate at least 10,000 students. By refining structural features such as promenades, canopies, gardens, the design incorporates both Ling Nan (Southern China) and Southern European styles. In order to bring out the cultural essence which its architecture represents, classical style is adopted as the primary approach which is to be infused with a touch of modernity with its preciseness and its attention to fine details.
The new campus reflects the idea of environmental protection and energy conservation, and integrates the culture of Lingnan and South Europe with mountains and sea around. The whole building has a multi-level, three-dimensional and college style layout reflecting the cultural characteristics of Ling Nan (Southern China) and Southern European styles to highlight the character of Macau as the communication platform between Chinese and Western Cultures. The aim is to build an extraordinary international campus with good ecological and cultural environment.

2. Concepts in planning and design
An ecological and humanistic campus featured by a multi-level and polycentric layout and residential colleges.
1) A polycentric layout to integrate teaching and life
Teaching and residential clusters will be positioned along a vertical axis, centering around the core campus and locking into one another. The effect is to present an overall layout in which large functional groups will encircle the public open space of the ecological lake and the landscaped gardens.
2) A tiered layout of residential colleges

Residential colleges will be incorporated into the layout of building groups. Each college will have its tiered centre and a multi-level pedestrian system and will thus form an independent and efficient operating system.

3) A welcoming and walking friendly environment
To create a walking friendly environment, the building groups will each have an area limited to a comfortable walking distance of 300 metres and be interconnected by walking routes, thus forming an ideal pedestrian system.

4) A modern campus combining ecological and humanistic characteristics
The lake, the streams and the wetlands constitute the main eco feature in the campus site. Water serves as a link between different building clusters. The crisscrossing waterways will be used for various axis formations, interfaces and landscape designs. This will help forge a functional as well as romantic ambience.

3. Analysis of the layout of functional zones
1) The Central Administration Building
The central administration building is situated to the north of the ecological centre and close to the main entrance of the campus. This is to facilitate the internal and external connection, as well as to offer a full view of the ecological lake and the campus.

2) The Library and the Common Teaching Zone
The Library is an important architectural feature situated near the ecological centre. It commands a beautiful view and is itself an important piece of architectural landscape in the central area. The common Teaching Zone will be located to the south of the ecological centre and will be an important landmark on campus. It will face both the sea and the Macao skyline.

3) The cluster of Residential Colleges
To make life part of students’ learning experience, the space between student dormitories and classrooms will be limited to a walking distance of 300 metres. In addition, multi-level platforms and corridors will make walking extra pleasant under all weather conditions.

4) The Sports Zone
Sports amenities will be distributed next to both ends of the residential clusters for the convenient use by the students. Standard facilities such as a main stadium, a sports pavilion and a swimming centre will be located near the main entrance of the campus for easy access by the community.

The new campus covers approximately 1.0899 square kilometers; with a building area of approximately 960,000sqm.